New Sonos Controller Update Improves Stream Quality

Yesterday the Sonos Controller application for Sonos Hi-Fi wireless systems received a fresh update on both iOS and Android platforms. The new version appears to be focused primarily on bringing new features to iOS, but the Android version includes a handful of additions as well, or at least it promises to improve audio quality while streaming Rhapsody and Napster content.

The changelog for the latest version of the Sonos Controller app for Android is rather scarce and only mentions the fact that audio streams on services including Rhapsody and Napster will be of higher quality thanks to a higher bitrate. In contrast, the update for iOS includes Quick Controls on the lock screen allowing users to control volume and music playback without having to unlock the device. Then again, playback controls have been available in Sonos Controller for Android since update 5.2 (the current version being 6.3), so although the new update appears to focus more on enriching the iOS version, it does so partly by catching up with the Android counterpart. However, the update does include a couple of features designed specifically for iOS, such as Force Touch support allowing users to access certain parts of the application by hard-pressing the Sonos Controller shortcut on their home screens, and the addition of Split View.

As is usually the case with application updates, the new version of Sonos Controller for Android should reach your smartphone automatically, at which point you will be notified to download and apply it. Otherwise, users can always go directly to the source, i.e. the Google Play Store, and grab the latest version manually (the Play Store banner below should do the trick). As for Hi-Fi enthusiasts who may have pondered on whether or not to adopt a Sonos wireless speaker system in the past, but have yet to reach a final decision due to certain limitations within the mobile app itself, it’s worth reminding them that Apple Music streaming support has been available in the Sonos Controller application since February 2016. In any case, the application for Android OS requires smartphones running Android 2.2 Froyo or later, so you probably don’t have to worry about compatibility with your device.

Mihai has written for Androidheadlines since 2016 and is a Senior Writer for the site. Mihai has a background in arts and owned a couple of small businesses in the late 2000s, namely an interior design firm and a clothing manufacturing line. He dabbled with real-estate for a short while and worked as a tech news writer for several publications since 2011. He always had an appreciation for silicon-based technology and hopes it will contribute to a better humanity. Contact him at [email protected]